Container treatment plant and operating procedures
A flexible connecting line system in container treatment systems addresses space and efficiency issues by allowing selective connection to treatment or sterilization fluid supplies, enhancing sterilization flexibility and reducing line length, thus improving operational efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102024103779
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing container treatment systems require long, rigid line systems for both sterilization and production operations, leading to space constraints and prolonged sterilization times due to early reaction of sterilization agents, limiting flexibility and efficiency.
Implementing a flexible connecting line that can be selectively connected to either the treatment fluid supply or sterilization fluid supply, allowing for a physical separation between operations, reducing line length and space requirements while enabling efficient sterilization.
The flexible connecting line system allows for reduced space usage and faster sterilization cycles by minimizing line length and enabling flexible arrangement, ensuring effective sterilization without interfering with production operations.
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a container treatment system for treating containers with at least one treatment module which has a container receptacle and a fluid supply associated with the container receptacle, wherein the fluid supply is designed to introduce a treatment fluid into a container.
[0002] The invention relates in particular to container treatment systems in the field of the food industry, in particular the beverage industry, wherein treatment means all activities that affect the containers in any way, provided that a treatment fluid is used for the treatment.
[0003] For example, the container treatment plant can be a filling plant in which the containers are filled with a product. This product can also be a liquid food, particularly a beverage, which is poured into the containers in the container treatment plant. In this case, the containers are, in particular, beverage bottles, e.g., made of glass or plastic, or beverage cans.
[0004] Alternatively, the container treatment plant can also be designed as a forming plant, in which the containers are first formed into beverage bottles. This is typically done in blow molding or stretch blow molding plants, with the containers initially being in the form of so-called preforms.
[0005] Preforms are containers which are only finished in the area of the container mouth with an external thread for receiving a closure cap and in which only the container body is then formed into a beverage bottle during blow forming or stretch blow forming. For this purpose, a treatment fluid, in particular a gaseous treatment fluid (e.g. compressed air), is introduced into the container, which applies internal pressure to it and presses the container body against a blow cavity. The blow cavity has the shape of the beverage bottle to be produced. In a stretch blow molding system, a so-called stretch rod is also provided, which causes the container body to be axially elongated along the container axis.
[0006] In order to enable such blow forming, the containers are usually made of a thermoplastic material, which is first heated within a heating device and softens in the process. The material is in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
[0007] During blow forming or stretch blow forming, a liquid treatment fluid can also be introduced into the containers. This then primarily involves a filling material that is already intended for filling the containers. Accordingly, the containers are not only formed by introducing the treatment fluid but are also filled at the same time. Such a process is commonly referred to as a form-fill process. Regardless of the design of the container treatment plant, it is customary to sterilize the fluid supply of the treatment modules and also any associated piping system at certain intervals. In the context of the invention, sterilization is understood to mean a process that enables the destruction of germs and bacteria. Accordingly, the fluid supplies are not only simply cleaned to wash out germs or bacteria.Rather, a sterilizing agent is actively introduced which is suitable for killing the existing bacteria and germs.
[0008] In order to be able to carry out appropriate sterilization, a distinction is made between a production operation and a sterilization operation, whereby no active treatment of the containers can take place during the sterilization operation, so that accordingly no containers are usually arranged within the container treatment plant.
[0009] From EP 2 388 126 B1, it is known that the fluid supplies of a blow molding system are connected via a connecting line to a sterilization fluid supply, through which a carrier fluid containing a sterilizing agent is then introduced. After sterilization, the supply line can then be easily separated from the connecting line via a valve device, whereby a blow molding fluid can then be introduced into the preforms via the supply line when production is started. Accordingly, a line system is provided which, regardless of operation, always provides a connection to both a sterilization fluid supply and a blow molding fluid supply, and wherein the type of operation can be changed simply by switching between the valve device.
[0010] The solutions known from practice have generally proven themselves and are particularly useful for quickly switching between production and sterilization operations. However, it has also been shown that the fixed provision of a connecting line and a connected sterilization fluid supply requires relatively long piping systems, which leads to the sterilizing agent being converted into the sterilization fluid at an early stage, thus requiring a relatively long sterilization cycle to sterilize all fluid supplies. At the same time, the sterilization fluid supply must also be an integral part of the entire blow molding system, which also results in limitations in terms of the required space.
[0011] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a container treatment system which can be sterilized in a simple manner, while at the same time minimizing the space requirement and reducing the length of the required piping systems.
[0012] The subject matter and solution to this problem is a container treatment system according to claim 1. Accordingly, the invention provides that, in a production facility, a treatment fluid supply and, in a sterilization facility, a sterilization fluid supply are connected to the at least one fluid supply via at least one flexible connecting line. A flexible connecting line in this context means that this connecting line can be connected flexibly. Accordingly, it is not an integral part of the line system. Furthermore, the connecting line can also be designed to be flexible in terms of its shape, allowing considerable freedom in the arrangement of this connecting line.
[0013] For example, the connecting line can be designed as a flexible hose line. This hose line is accordingly made of a flexible material. Alternatively or additionally, several line sections can be connected to one another in a movable manner, e.g., rotatably. A design as a pipe bend distributor is also conceivable in this context. According to such an embodiment, the flexible connecting line can be firmly connected at a first end, with the other, second end flexibly connecting to the treatment fluid supply or the sterilization fluid supply. The connection to the corresponding supply can be made by rotating the connecting line, with this rotation usually occurring along an axis of rotation arranged in the first end.
[0014] Accordingly, a flexible connecting line is explicitly provided, which provides greater flexibility in the arrangement of both the sterilization fluid supply and the treatment fluid supply, making it possible, in particular, to connect the sterilization fluid supply only when sterilization is required. At the same time, the flexible connecting line allows for a reduction in the length of the line system, as a significantly more flexible arrangement is possible compared to rigid line systems.
[0015] It is within the scope of the invention that only one flexible connecting line is provided, which is then connected exclusively to the treatment fluid supply during production operation and exclusively to the sterilization fluid supply during sterilization operation. Accordingly, a physical separation is provided between the flexible connecting line and the treatment fluid supply or the sterilization fluid supply when these are not required in the corresponding operating mode. Of course, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide at least two flexible connecting lines, wherein the flexible connecting lines are then connected to the treatment fluid supply or the sterilization fluid supply regardless of the operating mode. Accordingly, each type of supply has its own flexible connecting line, which is then connected to the at least one fluid supply depending on the operation.
[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the container treatment plant is designed as a blow molding plant or stretch blow molding plant, in which containers in the form of preforms are formed into beverage bottles. The forming takes place either with a gaseous treatment fluid (e.g. compressed air) or with a liquid treatment fluid, which in this case is primarily a liquid filling material, in particular a foodstuff, e.g. a beverage (form-fill process). To enable such forming, the treatment modules each have a container receptacle designed as a blow mold. This blow mold usually consists of at least two blow mold halves, which are designed to be pivotable relative to one another and which together form a blow cavity corresponding to the shape of the beverage bottle to be produced.
[0017] When the blow cavity is open, a container in the form of a preform can be inserted, with the blow mold then being closed by pivoting the blow mold halves. A fluid supply is assigned to the container receptacle, through which, when the container is closed, the treatment fluid is introduced under pressure into the container to cause plastic deformation of the container. Typically, the fluid supply is formed on a valve device arranged above the container receptacle, so that the supply of the treatment fluid can be controlled accordingly via the valve device.
[0018] The at least one treatment module is usually arranged on a rotatably drivable carrier, so that the containers are treated as the carrier rotates. Such a configuration is also preferred for a filling system. In particular, a large number, e.g. 10 to 20 treatment modules, are arranged on the carrier so that a large number of containers can be treated simultaneously. According to such a configuration, the treatment modules, including the fluid supplies and the container receptacle, are firmly mounted on the carrier so that the treatment fluid is supplied to the containers in a rotating system. For this purpose, the fluid supplies are connected either directly or indirectly to a rotary feedthrough, which enables the treatment fluid to be transferred between a stationary line system and the rotating fluid supplies.According to such a design, the supply line is part of the fixed line system and connects to the rotary union at the end.
[0019] In order to enable a plastic deformation of the containers in a suitable manner in the first place, the container treatment plant can have a heating device which is arranged upstream of the at least one treatment module and in which the containers or the preforms are heated in order to soften the material, in particular PET.
[0020] Furthermore, the invention is particularly advantageous when not only the introduction of a sterile treatment fluid is desired, but also when the containers are already sterile during treatment or are sterilized during the treatment. In particular, the container treatment system can have a container sterilization device in which the containers are sterilized. Accordingly, a distinction must be made between a sterilization device according to the invention that sterilizes the line system, in particular the supply line and the fluid feeds, in a sterilization facility and a container sterilization device that sterilizes the containers in a production facility.
[0021] This container sterilization device is preferably arranged upstream of the at least one treatment module in the transport direction of the containers. In the case of a blow molding system, the container sterilization device can be arranged either upstream of the heating device or between the heating device and the at least one treatment module. Arranging it upstream of the heating device has the advantage that, in the case of sterilization using a container sterilization fluid, the container sterilization fluid is first introduced into the container sterilization device and then activated in the downstream heating device. The sterilizing agent is, in particular, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peracetic acid, steam, or mixtures thereof.Furthermore, it is also conceivable for the container sterilization device to be integrated into the heating device or into the treatment modules, so that sterilization occurs during heating or during blow molding, respectively. Instead of sterilization with a container sterilization fluid, sterilization of the containers by irradiation, particularly UV irradiation, is also possible.
[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one flexible connecting line is connected to the supply line via a detachable interchangeable connection. According to such an embodiment, it is assumed that the flexible connecting line is essentially fixedly connected to the corresponding sterilization fluid supply or the treatment fluid supply, and the detachable interchangeable connection then enables the optional connection of the treatment fluid supply or the sterilization fluid supply. Such an interchangeable connection has two interacting connection elements, wherein the common supply line has a first connection element and the flexible connecting lines each have a second connection element, and wherein the first connection element can then be connected to the second connection element.
[0023] Furthermore, it is also possible for the flexible connecting line to be connected to the sterilization fluid supply or the treatment fluid supply via a detachable interchangeable connector, so that accordingly only one flexible connecting line is provided, which is selectively connected to the corresponding supply. According to such an embodiment, the sterilization fluid supply and the treatment fluid supply each have a first connection element, and the flexible connecting line has a second connection element.
[0024] A further development of the invention further provides for a filter device to be arranged in the supply line in a fluid-acting manner. This filter device is usually at least one filter element which is arranged in a filter housing and through which the treatment fluid flows during production. In principle, several filter elements can also be arranged one behind the other, whereby the filter elements are usually activated carbon filters, sterile filters or particle filters. With the aid of such a filter device, it is possible to filter the treatment fluid during production and thereby reduce the germ and bacteria load in the fluid supplies and in the shared supply line. Such a configuration is particularly useful when particularly sensitive foodstuffs, in particular beverages, are to be placed in the containers.Accordingly, however, it is necessary for the filter device to be sterilized and reconditioned during the sterilization process. During the sterilization process, the sterilization fluid flows not only through the supply line and fluid inlets, but also through the filter device or the filter elements of the filter device, allowing continued active filtering of germs or bacteria after the sterilization process.
[0025] As already explained, the integration of a flexible connecting line enables flexible arrangement, particularly of the sterilization fluid supply, so that a comparatively short length can be selected for the flexible connecting line. In particular, it is intended that the flexible connecting line has a length between 1 m and 4 m, in particular between 1.5 and 3 m.
[0026] Furthermore, it is provided that the sterilization fluid supply comprises at least one sterilization agent reservoir and a sterilization fluid pump. A carrier fluid is sucked in via the sterilization fluid pump and mixed with a sterilization agent from the sterilization agent reservoir. Alternatively, it is also possible for the sterilization agent to be a ready-made sterilization fluid, which is then simply introduced into the line system via the sterilization fluid pump or into the corresponding line system via the flexible connecting line. The sterilization agent is, in particular, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peracetic acid, steam, or mixtures thereof, which is arranged within the sterilization agent reservoir, particularly during ward operation.
[0027] Of particular importance for the invention is that switching between production operation and sterilization operation can be achieved by actively physically separating the line system, whereby the sterilization fluid supply is not connected to the line system or to the common supply line during production operation and the treatment fluid supply is not connected to the line system or to the common supply line during sterilization operation. Accordingly, either the treatment fluid supply or the sterilization fluid supply can be optionally connected via the flexible connecting line, whereby this switch can be carried out either manually or automatically. In the case of an automatic switch, a handling device is additionally provided, via which the treatment fluid supply and the sterilization fluid supply are connected to the common supply line or to the fluid supplies.
[0028] A particular embodiment of the invention provides that the at least one treatment module is designed as a blow molding module with a container receptacle designed as a blow mold, and wherein the fluid supply is configured to introduce a blow molding fluid as the treatment fluid into the containers. The containers are therefore preforms which are shaped into beverage bottles during the treatment. The container treatment system is designed in the manner of a container blow molding system, although it can also be a stretch blow molding system. In a stretch blow molding system, in addition to the actual forming, the containers are also stretched along the container axis. According to a conventional embodiment, a plurality of treatment modules are provided on a rotatably arranged carrier so that the blow molding or stretch blow molding takes place during a rotary transport of the containers.
[0029] The invention further relates to a method for operating a container treatment system, in particular a container treatment system according to the invention with at least one treatment module, which has a container receptacle and a fluid supply associated with the container receptacle, wherein the fluid supply is designed to introduce a treatment fluid into a container. As already explained above, the container treatment system can be either a blow molding system or a filling system, so that all of the previously described features can also be adopted for the method.
[0030] According to the invention, it is now provided that, in a production facility, the at least one fluid supply is fluidly connected to the treatment fluid supply, and a treatment fluid is introduced into the containers to treat the containers in a predetermined manner. A line connecting the fluid supply to the treatment fluid supply is then disconnected and connected to a sterilization fluid supply.
[0031] In this context, separation means that there is no physical connection between the individual components or between the fluid supply and the treatment fluid supply. Accordingly, the piping system is not simply blocked by a valve, but actively decoupled.
[0032] A sterilization fluid is then introduced into a sterilization facility, and at least one fluid supply is sterilized in the process. If there are multiple treatment modules and thus multiple fluid supplies, these are connected to each other via a common supply line in the manner described above, so that the common supply line is also sterilized during the sterilization process.
[0033] According to a further development of the invention, the separation of the connecting line connecting the fluid supply to the treatment fluid supply and the subsequent connection of the connecting line to the sterilization fluid supply and / or the separation of the connecting line connecting the fluid supply to the sterilization fluid supply and the subsequent connection of the connecting line to the treatment fluid supply can be automated. For this purpose, a handling device, e.g., a robot, is provided, via which the separation and connection takes place. The handling device is preferably connected to a control device that controls the handling device.
[0034] A preferred embodiment of the invention further provides a connection housing within which the fluid supply can be connected to the treatment fluid supply or the sterilization fluid supply. The connection housing can be designed as a clean room, thereby ensuring that no open sections of the line system can be contaminated with germs during a connection change. Accordingly, an air supply device for introducing germ-free air is assigned to the connection housing. In this context, a clean room is understood to be a connection housing which, compared to the connection housing, has a reduced number of airborne particles. A fundamental distinction is made here between different purity classes according to ISO 14644-1. Within the scope of the invention, purity classes between ISO 3 and ISO 9 are particularly envisaged.
[0035] A further development of the method according to the invention provides that the line is then disconnected from the sterilization fluid supply and reconnected to the treatment supply, and then the production operation is resumed.
[0036] According to a further development of the invention, the cable is a flexible connecting cable.
[0037] Furthermore, a filter device fluidly connected to the at least one fluid supply can also be sterilized during sterilization. The sterilization fluid is, in particular, hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the sterilization fluid can also contain only hydrogen peroxide as the sterilizing agent, which is then usually diluted within a carrier fluid. This carrier fluid is, in particular, air or steam. Alternatively, steam itself can also be used as the sterilization fluid.
[0038] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a container treatment plant according to the invention in production operation Fig. 2 the container treatment plant in accordance with Fig. 1 in sterilization operation Fig. 3 an alternative embodiment of the container treatment plant according to the invention
[0039] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a container treatment plant, which is designed as a stretch blow molding plant and accordingly comprises a plurality of treatment modules 1 arranged within a treatment enclosure 13, which are designed as stretch blow molding modules and which have a blow cavity in which the containers 2 are received. The containers 2 used are so-called plastic preforms, which are formed into beverage bottles by introducing a blowing fluid. Accordingly, these are containers 2 made of a thermoplastic material, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET). According to the Fig. 1, the plastic preforms have already been formed into plastic bottles by introducing a treatment fluid, wherein the treatment fluid is a blowing fluid which enables plastic deformation of the containers 2 due to the high pressure.
[0040] For introducing the treatment fluid, a treatment fluid supply 3 is provided, which conveys the treatment fluid in the form of compressed air via a supply line 4 to a rotary union 5, from which individual fluid supplies 6 branch off and which terminate at the ends in the individual treatment modules 1. Via these fluid supplies 6, it is then possible to introduce the treatment fluid or the blowing fluid into the containers 2.
[0041] In the Fig. In the production plant shown in Figure 1, a flexible connecting line 7 is provided to ensure a fluid connection between the treatment fluid supply 3 and the fluid supplies 6, which connects the treatment fluid supply 3 to the supply line 4. This flexible connecting line 7 makes it possible to optionally connect the treatment fluid supply 3 and also a separate sterilization fluid supply 8 to the supply line 4 and also to select the arrangement as flexibly as possible.
[0042] The flexible connecting line 7 is designed as a hose line and is connected via a flexible changeover connection 9 on the one hand to the supply line 4 and on the other hand to the treatment fluid supply 3, wherein the changeover connections 9 each have a first connection element 10a and a second connection element 10b, wherein according to the Fig. 1A both the treatment fluid supply 3 and the supply line 4 and the sterilization fluid supply 8 have a first connection element 10a, via which the flexible connecting line 7 can be fastened with second connection elements 10b arranged at its end.
[0043] The connection elements 10a, 10b are, as shown, preferably arranged within a connection housing 14, which is designed as a clean room. This connection housing 14 ensures that open line sections cannot be contaminated with germs. The treatment housing 13, shown schematically here, is also designed as a clean room. The clean room 13 can also have a different size and, for example, be designed exclusively around the cavities (as a so-called mini-isolator).
[0044] Furthermore, a filter device 11 is arranged in the supply line 4. This filter device contains at least one filter element that filters out germs and bacteria from the treatment fluid during production, so that the treatment fluid or blowing fluid introduced into the containers 2 is as germ-free as possible. However, this means that the filter device 11 in particular must be reconditioned after a certain period of time. This is achieved by passing a sterilization fluid through the supply line 4 and thus also through the filter device 11, which actively kills or sterilizes the germs and bacteria. At the same time, this sterilization fluid is also fed into the fluid feedthroughs 6 via the rotary union 5, so that all components of the line system can be sterilized.
[0045] This sterilization facility is located in the Fig. 2, whereby the sterilization fluid supply 8 is now clearly connected to the supply line 4 via the flexible connecting line 7 according to the Fig. 2, the treatment fluid supply 3 is physically completely decoupled from the supply line 4, so that consequently no sterilization fluid can enter the treatment fluid supply 3. Conversely, in the Fig. 1, the sterilization fluid supply 8 is completely decoupled from the supply line 4. The sterilization fluid is then fed through the filter device 11, the supply line 4, and the rotary union 5 into the fluid feeds 6 via a sterilization fluid pump 12, whereby no containers are arranged within the treatment modules 1 during the sterilization operation.
[0046] By incorporating a flexible connecting line 7, it is now possible to flexibly arrange the sterilization fluid supply 8 to the remaining components of the container treatment system 8, or to spatially arrange such a sterilization fluid supply 8 only when a corresponding sterilization operation is planned. Furthermore, a comparatively short connecting section 7 can also be used, since the flexibility does not impose any special requirements on the spatial design. In particular, the length of the flexible connecting line 7 is between 1 m and 4 m.
[0047] The Fig.Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which two flexible connecting lines 7a, 7b are provided, and wherein a first flexible connecting line 7a is arranged at the treatment fluid supply 3 and a second flexible connecting line 7b is arranged at the sterilization fluid supply 8. Accordingly, the respective flexible connecting line 7a, 7b is disconnected and connected depending on the selected mode of operation by disconnecting and connecting the changeover connector 9 between the flexible connecting line 7a, 7b and the supply line 4. List of reference symbols 1 treatment module, blowing module 2 containers 3 Treatment fluid supply 4 Supply line 5 Rotary union 6 Fluid supply 7, 7a, 7b flexible connecting line 8 Sterilization fluid supply 9 Exchange connection 10a, 10b connecting elements 11 Filter device 12 Sterilization fluid pump 13 Treatment enclosure 14 Connection housing QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION
[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature
[0000] EP 2 388 126 B1
[0009] Cited non-patent literature
[0000] ISO 14644-1
[0034] ISO 3 and ISO 9
[0034]
Claims
[1] Container treatment system for treating containers (2) with at least one treatment module (1) which has a container receptacle and a fluid supply (6) associated with the container receptacle, wherein the fluid supply (6) is designed to introduce a treatment fluid into a container (2), characterized by in that in a production plant a treatment fluid supply (3) and in a sterilization plant a sterilization fluid supply (8) are connected to the at least one fluid supply (6) via at least one flexible connecting line (7, 7a, 7b). [2] Container treatment plant according to claim 1, characterized by that a plurality of treatment modules (1) are provided, each of which has a container receptacle and a fluid supply (6) associated with the container receptacle, and wherein the fluid supplies (6) are connected to the at least one flexible connecting line (7, 7a, 7b) via a common supply line (4). [3] Container treatment plant according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the at least one flexible connecting line (7, 7a, 7b) is connected to the supply line (4) via a detachable exchange connection (9). [4] Container treatment plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the flexible connecting line (7, 7a, 7b) is connected to the sterilization fluid supply (8) or the treatment fluid supply (3) via a detachable exchange connection (9). [5] Container treatment plant according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that a filter device (11) is arranged in the supply line (4) in a fluid-acting manner. [6] Container treatment plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the flexible connecting line (7, 7a, 7b) has a length between 1 m and 4 m. [7] Container treatment plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the sterilization fluid supply (8) has at least one sterilization agent reservoir and a sterilization fluid pump (12). [8] Container treatment plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one treatment module is designed as a blowing module (1) with a container receptacle designed as a blow mold and wherein the fluid supply is designed to introduce a blowing fluid as treatment fluid into the containers (2). [9] Method for operating a container treatment plant, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one treatment module which has a container receptacle and a fluid supply (6) associated with the container receptacle, wherein the fluid supply (6) is designed to introduce a treatment fluid into a container (2), characterized by , that in a production plant, the at least one fluid supply (6) is fluidly connected to the treatment fluid supply (3) and a treatment fluid is introduced into the containers (2) in order to treat the containers (2) in a predetermined manner, wherein a line connecting the fluid supply (6) to the treatment fluid supply (3) is subsequently separated and connected to a sterilization fluid supply (8), wherein a sterilization fluid is subsequently introduced in a sterilization operation and in the course of this the at least one fluid supply (6) is sterilized. [10] Method according to claim 9, characterized by that the line is separated from the sterilization fluid supply (8) and connected to the treatment fluid supply (3) and then switched back to production operation. [11] Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized bythat the separation of the connecting line (7, 7a, 7b) connecting the fluid supply (6) to the treatment fluid supply (3) and the subsequent connection of the connecting line (7, 7a, 7b) to the sterilization fluid supply (8) and / or the separation of the connecting line (7, 7a, 7b) connecting the fluid supply (6) to the sterilization fluid supply (8) and the subsequent connection of the connecting line (7, 7a, 7b) to the treatment fluid supply (3) is carried out automatically. [12] Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by that the line is a flexible connecting line (7, 7a, 7b). [13] Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein in the sterilization operation a filter device (11) fluidly connected to the at least one fluid supply (6) is sterilized. [14] Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized bythat the sterilization fluid contains hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing agent.
Citation Information
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